Jar clamp



1. DUDEK.. JAR CLAMP. APPucAnoN \FILED JAN. 12. 1-921.

Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

. i fafizz Jaded. OR

ATTORNEY UNITED STATEfii PTENT OFFIQE."

JOHN DUDEK, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

JAR CLAMP.

1,et10,390. Specification of Lettersfetent' Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

Application filed January 12, 1921. Serial No. 436,850.

To all whom it may concern; which are pivotally connected by a pivot Be it known that 1, JOHN Dnon c, a bolt 12. One handle is provided with a citizen of the State of Nebraska, residing hole 13. Y

at Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in Jar Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for use i in connection with fruit jars and has for its object the provision of a clamping device for holding and handling fruit jars or cans while the same are being filled and particularly when they are being sealed, the device being of course operable for the re verse purpose, that is for holding the jar when the top is to be unscrewed.

An important and more specific object is the provision of a device of this character including a web adapted for encircling engagement with a jar and connected at its ends with a pair of pivotally connected handles cooperating with a curved plate engaging the jar so that when the handles are pressed together the web and plate will exert a clamping action which will result in holding the jar absolutely rigid while the top is being screwed on or oil.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in construction, highly eflicient in use, durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

\Vith the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device in position upon a fruit jar,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device in open or extended position,

Figure 3 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view showing it in clamping position, and

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken through the handles and looking toward the clamping plate.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have shown my device as comprising a pair of handles 10 formed preferably of sheet metal cut and stamped to shape and these handles are arcuate in cross section, as shown, and are provided at one end with laterally prolonged overlapping ears 11 The numeral lei designates a flexible web of heavy canvas, belting, or other suitable material which has its ends disposed against the inner faces of the handles 10 and which has one end connected with one handle by means of a bolt let which passes through the hole 13. The other end of the-web is held in position by a clamping plate 15 which is arcuate in cross section and which lies againstthe inside of thehandle. This plate is formed withearslfipivoted upon the bolt 12 and lying inwardly of or between the cars 11. At its pivoted end the plate 15 is formed with a flange 17 provided with teeth 18 engaging the web. By this connection it will be seen that the diameter of the loop formed by the web may be varied so that the device may be adapted for use upon jars of widely varying sizes.

Cooperating with the web loop is an armate or crescent shaped clamping plate 19, faced with fabric 20, which is disposed adjacent the handles and which is formed with spaced cars 21 through Which the pivot bolt 12 passes.

111 the use of the device the handles are normally in divergent position, as shown in Figure 2. With the handles in this posi tion the operator places the loop of the web in encircling relation to the jar to be gripped, it being of course necessary that the web be adjusted accurately to the size of the jar. The operator then grasps the handles 10 and presses them together whereupon, owing to the peculiar formation of the ears 11 the plate 19 will be moved toward the opposite side of the loop or web, the action being in the nature of a cam action. This will of course result in contraction of the circle formed by the clamping plate and the portion of the web beyond the ends of the plate and this will naturally cause a gripping action on the jar or can so that the jar may be very easily and rigidlyfiheld while the top is being screwed on or o While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A fruit jar clamp comprising a pair of handles each formed at one end with inclined lateral ears pivotally connected, a flexible web formed into a loop and having its ends connected with said handles at the confronting faces thereof, and an arcnate plate having ears overlying said first named ears and pivotally connected With the pivot thereof movement of said handles toward each other resulting in movement of said plate toward the opposite side of the loop.

2. A fruit jar clamp comprising a pair of handles each formed at one end with inclined lateral ears pivotally connected, a flexible web formed into a loop and having its ends connected with said handles at the confronting faces thereof, an arcnate plate having ears overlying said first named ears and pivotally connected with, the pivot thereof, movement of said handles toward each. other resulting in movement of said plate toward the opposite side of the'loop and means for adjustably connecting one end of the web with the associated handle whereby to vary the diameter of the loop to fit cans of diiferent sizes.

3. A device of the character described comprising a pair of handles arcuate in cross section and formed at one end with lateral ears extending beyond the end of the handle, a web rigidly secured at one end to one of said handles and formed to provide a loop With its other end engaged against the inner side of. the other handle, an arcuate clamping plate carrying ears overlying said first named ears, apivot pin connecting all of said ears, and a clamping plate formed arcuate in cross section for conforming engagement against the inner side of the second named handle and provided adjacent its pivoted end with an outwardly extending toothed flange penetratingly engaging said second named end of the W6b.'

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN DUDEK. 

